The Heat have lost four straight, including a five-point decision to the lottery-bound Hornets on Saturday, and Jimmy Butler is fed up, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald writes. Butler said he was “tired of losing.”
The Heat recently added Kevin Love and Cody Zeller but that hasn’t turned their fortunes around in the short run. “I don’t think anybody in here wants to lose,” Butler said. “We’ve got to figure this out very, very quickly.”
We have more from the Southeast Division:
- Kyle Lowry, who has been dealing with left knee soreness, has been upgraded to questionable for the Heat’s game against Philadelphia on Monday, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel tweets. Tyler Herro is listed as questionable due to a rib contusion.
- Forward Kelly Oubre Jr. is headed to unrestricted free agency this summer but it sounds as if he’d like to stay with the Hornets. Oubre said he still has a “lot to give” to the franchise, Rod Boone of the Charlotte Observer tweets. I have a lot to give to this city, to this organization, to my teammates as far as my leadership and my life path,” he said.
- Kristaps Porzingis missed the Wizards’ game on Sunday due to left knee soreness, while Monte Morris sat out with lower back soreness, the team’s PR department tweets.
There was some guy on here the other day saying the Heat were going to make the finals if they signed ” A point guard”
It was the Sun.
Oh no General Soreness is unhappy…
How long before he starts playing games with management again…?
Will he even last a single off season of playing the spoilt brat role he played in Minnesota? Not with Pat Reilly…
Miami messed up giving Duncan Robinson that deal, letting OJ go and then didn’t try trade to get better.
They are linked with every big name that gets mentioned in trade talks but they don’t have the capital to make anything happen. They needed to move off Robinson and try do something at the deadline. Kyle Lowrys deal is also up there with one of the worst in the league too. KLove was putting a plaster on a big open wound.
Things won’t get any easier this offseason, Gabe Vincent and Max Strus are both on scoring deals. I doubt Kevin will return next season. Still another year of Lowry and 3 more of Duncan.
I’d offer the pistons Duncan Robinson, Jovic and a first for Bagley and Noel.
Bagley is a solid fit at the 4 spot, young, talented high potential, good height and athleticism. Shooting ability is there, strikes me as someone who needs a vet like Jimmy Butler and UH to really make him work hard and bring the nets out of him. He’s always just played for mediocre teams and not lived up to the hype. Nerlens Noel would be also be a solid pick up as they have struggled to be a consistent back up 5. He’d be decent behind Bam, mobile enough to guard pick and rolls and always been a good shot blocker.
Pistons of all teams could do with Duncan. A 2 or 3 that’ll just shoot it and space the floor. They have a bunch of bigs so can afford to lose these two, Duncan gives them exactly what they need with more shooting and they also get back a first round pick. Yes it’s a terrible contract but it is moveable. Its 2 years at just under 20mil and the third year if half guaranteed. Not the worse and because he does provide you with what you need and a first round pick it would be a good deal.
Then I’d try make a deal with Charlotte,
Kyle Lowry and 2 seconds for Terry Rozier and Cody Martin.
For the Hornets your selling them the idea of clearing long term contracts off the books and getting a big name in FA. Next season they’d have Lowry and Hayward as roughly 60mil of scoring deals. Martin isn’t getting game time regardless and Terry is solid but you can clear money now and get back some picks why not?
For the Heat, Terry would be a solid addition as would adding the other Martin brother. Yes it’s more long term money but both deals aren’t terrible and if you change your mind in the future you can move of either guy.
It would then allow you to line up
Rozier Herro Butler Bagley Bam
Strus Oladipo Martin Martin Noel
Now that solid a lot more solid than what they have now. Yes it cost you a first and 2 seconds but it’s a step in the right direction. Bagley fills a huge hole, is young with upside and could be a long term piece, you have a full bench of good role players and you should do well.
I think the Heat may need to consider taking a step back this year for long-term success. The reasons are that we have a lot of guys that are on the wrong side of 30 who aren’t going to get us better than we are now…and at the same time we have a bunch of younger guys that probably should be allowed more leeway to develop and show what they can be. And of course, we have two nice young pieces with Bam and Herro. And Butler is all that he will ever be, so we won’t be improving because of him – and he can only decline once he is past his prime abilities.
For me, I’d consider a short rebuild/retool with younger players. I’d move the obvious suspects if possible in Lowry, Robinson, Oladipo and a few others. I’d also consider moving Butler as well for young pieces (and/or draft picks unless you can get a prime young piece). I’d clear the road for more playing time for Vincent, Strus, Yurtseven, Jovic etc. and any young pieces added via trades. I’d look into the trade market for one of the star players that is still in his 20s.
Now with the rebuild/retool, I’d consider bringing Love back and some supportive vets to help and complement the young players, but the prime goal is letting the team get younger with the build.
The reason for my thought process is that, with or without Butler, we still need a legit Superstar type that will be the centerpiece of the team (ala the days of D-Wade, LeBron, Zo, Shaq). Bam And Butler are excellent, and Herro brings some talent, but these guys are more suited to being the supporting cast for a Superstar that can carry a team on his back with them supporting him. For me, you can do that with Bam and Herro with the right Superstar type.
Now don’t take me wrong in thinking what the Heat are doing right now is useless. They are a contending team, but they are not a legit championship team, and what they have is a team that is constantly needing to use revolving door band-aids on leaks that show up every year when aging or one-hit-wonder players decline, and the potential expiring shelf-life that comes with it. They need to build this with long-term stability. They have the pieces with Bam and Herro and possibly others. They should go with that…redistributing their payroll commitment along the way.
Charlotte is going to ask for Straus or Vincent in that deal for Rozier. No way are they giving away Rozier AND Martin for just Lowery and two seconds.
Heat fans starting to sound like Lakers fans. Lowry and 2nds for Rozier, good luck.
Only a small number of Heat fans would make a statement like that.
Both are free agents. And as I said you sell them on clearing enough cap space for the max and more. That way you add a star next to Ball and what you already have.
But nah jog on with Terry Rozier then I’m sure you’ll love to continue being a lottery team and eventually Ball will leave and I’m sure itll be sooner than Kemba